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> Solar power, Solar panels

lindymc
post May 14 2006, 10:47 PM
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Does anybody use solar panels to either keep the house battery charged and/or to run a refrigerator in their truck camper? We have an old (1999) truck camper - plain vanilla variety - and like to camp in the wild without hookups. We have considered purchasing some solar panels to keep our battery charged but don't know much about them. Can anybody tell me what size we need? Our TC is a pop-up so having panels on the roof would add weight we don't need or want to have to crank up. Has anybody used the kind of panels that sit on the ground? Any help would be appreciated. biggrin.gif


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1999 Comfort Camp Truck Camper
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garbinator
post May 21 2008, 04:25 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 3500 GMC Dually 4X4 Crew Cab DuraMax w/6sp variable Allison
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac, Altec power jacks
Truck and Camper Setup: Lance Legend 990 fully loaded series, Electric Jacks, Air Bags, heavy duty torsion bar, Titan extend-a-hitch, .357 Mag Marlin Lever Action (Cowboy rifle) for camper defense. Bose Acoustic Wave Machine to Ez the nights away...



http://www.rversonline.org/ArtInv.html

As I do not spend that much time in my camper I utilize a Honda 2000i for recharging my battery. At Idol, the generator will run for over 15 hours or so.
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bubbacamper
post May 22 2009, 02:02 PM
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Member No.: 3,143
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Hornet, so far...
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: '77 chevy 1-ton dually 4 door
Type of Tiedowns used: universal bed rail clamps w/turnbuckles
Truck and Camper Setup: 1991, 9 1/2 foot Hornet on the above mentioned chevy.



Here is a very interesting article for solar charging batteries. I plan on using two 6 volt golf cart batteries for more storage.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago93.html
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LindaH
post May 27 2009, 03:59 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Eagle Cap
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually (Cummins engine)
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift w/Fastguns
Truck and Camper Setup: Eagle Cap 950, 2 100-watt solar panels, 2 6-volt AGM batteries, 1000-watt pure sine wave inverter, Motosat Executive satellite TV dish, Torklift 5-step Glow Steps.



We have solar panels on both our fifth wheel and our slide-in truck camper: 4 on the fifth wheel, 2 on the camper.

The solar panels will not *run* your refrigerator...the sole purpose of solar panels is to charge batteries. In order to use the batteries to run AC appliances, you will need a properly sized inverter.

However, I would not recommend trying to run a refrigerator on AC using an inverter...it would quickly drain your batteries. When dry camping, run your refrigerator on propane.

What size do you need? That depends entirely on how much roof surface you have and what you want to run. Here are a couple of solar educational pages to help you determine your needs:

1) http://www.amsolar.com/education.html
2) http://www.rvsolarelectric.com/

The second site, in particular, has a LOT of good information, including a worksheet you can use to help you figure out how much power you need. Of course, you'll need to strike a happy balance between the room you have to install everything, the price you want to pay for all of it, and the stuff you want to run.
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rockynbritta
post Jun 1 2009, 08:45 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): thats up in the air right now
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2008 Dodge Mega Cab 4x4 Hemi & 2008 Dodge 2500 Cummins 2wd longbed
Type of Tiedowns used: to be determined
Truck and Camper Setup: got the truck. getting the truck camper...



try this

http://www.amsolar.com/index.html

i hope to have these folks install our when we get on the road


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BobC
post Jun 2 2009, 07:52 PM
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bkey
post Jun 11 2009, 01:04 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): camper
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: f-350
Type of Tiedowns used: qwik-loads
Truck and Camper Setup: f-350



Hello,

You can find panels here Http://www.greenswitchswitchsolar.com


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larryjj
post Sep 29 2009, 07:03 PM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Bigfoot
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F - 350
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac
Truck and Camper Setup: F350. Bigfoot camper c/w happijacs



I run my entire camper electrical with a 115 watt panel. The only problem is when parked in areas completely covered by tree branches. Not enough sun.
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dwestmodesto
post Dec 9 2009, 12:45 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): whatever I can afford
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 2004 Dodge 2500 Quadcab 4wd longbed, 1989 Cascade 8.5 camper
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift with happyjac turnbuckles
Truck and Camper Setup: Firestone airbags, Rancho 9000XL rear shocks, harbor freight cargo rack back porch,



QUOTE(lindymc @ May 14 2006, 08:47 PM)
Does anybody use solar panels to either keep the house battery charged and/or to run a refrigerator in their truck camper?  We have an old (1999) truck camper - plain vanilla variety - and like to camp in the wild without hookups.  We have considered purchasing some solar panels to keep our battery charged but don't know much about them.  Can anybody tell me what size we need?  Our TC is a pop-up so having panels on the roof would add weight we don't need or want to have to crank up.  Has anybody used the kind of panels that sit on the ground?  Any help would be appreciated. biggrin.gif
*


I bought the cheap 60 watt, 3 panel setup that Coleman sells last summer. I have 3.3 acres near the coast of Washington and drycamp there with a 33ft travel trailer for a couple months in summer. 60 watts was enough to extend the time till I had to take a battery to town and charge, but didn't eliminate the need. I will be adding another 60 watts this summer. For the camper, since it will charge batteries when driving, 60 watts might be enough to give you the additional time you need. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11298162 I am thinking of getting 2 more of the kits. One for the roof of our camper, and a 2nd for our travel trailer.
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nawlinscamper
post Jan 12 2010, 01:10 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lance
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Toyota Tundra
Type of Tiedowns used: none
Truck and Camper Setup: none yet



We sell a variety of solar panels.

I have a good guide here: RV Solar Guide

Remember size is everything on a small camper. Our 95 watt solar kit is the most common used on truck campers because its size is so small.

95 Watt Solar Kit

This kit is very efficent. Includes brackets, cables, pwm controller, and tie downs.

Here is a great install story for Vern who is running an Engel fridge on a pair of 95 watt panels.
Solar Camper

Attached image(s)
Attached Image


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Camping is a way of life!
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johnnystrauss77
post Nov 12 2011, 12:38 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): oregoan
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: full supoort
Type of Tiedowns used: Hapijac
Truck and Camper Setup: I have D-350: Air Pressure, heavy engine, Happijac Tiedown



Well, I have a question to ask , I just bought a 500watt solar panel from a company and want to install it at my house roof but I don’t know how to put all things together but company mechanics helped me in fixing my problem. I want to know how much power it can generate for one day because my work is on computer and I have around 30 computers which absorb a lot of power. Therefore I bought solar panel to reduce some expenses.

Solar Panels Texas
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paultim374
post Jun 20 2013, 01:04 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): no any
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-350 Dually 4x4
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac
Truck and Camper Setup: F-350



Dear I plan on using two 6 volt golf cart batteries for more storage.


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bela374
post Jun 22 2013, 05:58 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Lamborgini
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-350 Dually 4x4
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac
Truck and Camper Setup: Happijac Tiedowns



I would not recommend trying to run a refrigerator on AC using an inverter...it would quickly drain your batteries. When dry camping, run your refrigerator on propane.


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tonymull
post Aug 15 2013, 08:01 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Pastime
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Toyota Tundra 4X4
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 2008 Tundra 4X4 5.7, Air Bags, Torklift tie downs w/fastguns, 1998 Pastime 850 SD 8.5 foot camper.



I was recently looking at flexible solar panels. They go on with adhesive so there is no putting holes in the roof, and with new technology they work better in the shade. 150-200W's should be plenty. I think they were Unisolar.
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DonnStpeter
post Apr 4 2014, 05:58 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): toyota
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: F-350 Dually 4x4 toyota
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijac
Truck and Camper Setup: air bags with lance



QUOTE(lindymc @ May 14 2006, 10:47 PM)
Does anybody use solar panels to either keep the house battery charged and/or to run a refrigerator in their truck camper?  We have an old (1999) truck camper - plain vanilla variety - and like to camp in the wild without hookups.  We have considered purchasing some solar panels to keep our battery charged but don't know much about them.  Can anybody tell me what size we need?  Our TC is a pop-up so having panels on the roof would add weight we don't need or want to have to crank up.  Has anybody used the kind of panels that sit on the ground?  Any help would be appreciated. biggrin.gif
*


I have been using solar panels for a while and it is very effective power generating system.. Yes initial cost is bit high but in long run you will be able to save plenty of money..
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hedge
post Apr 4 2014, 04:11 PM
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Member No.: 6,191
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Adventurer
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Ford F350
Type of Tiedowns used: TorkLift
Truck and Camper Setup: '12 F350, '13 Adventurer 89RB



How do the panels handle hail and or ice and snow? Do you need to protect them in the winter somehow?
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rbmack5
post May 16 2014, 11:49 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): ?
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Dodge 2500 diesel
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift, homemade
Truck and Camper Setup: Dodge 2500 , elkhorn11ft, rancho, torklift



It's ok to run the frige on gas using solar panel to provide elec for controls .a 100 watt panel is quite a lot you will also need a charge controller to maintain bat and to not discharge at night.look and see what 12volt draw for fridge is more than likely solar panel can run during day then switching to gas for night saving gas.i have a cabin that's totally solar .rob
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